Guide mechanism for a web



Dec. 10, 1963 D. CHAMPLIN ETAL GUIDE MECHANISM FOR A WEB 2 Sheets-Sheet1 Filed April 13, 1961 IN V EN TOR Dec. 10, 1963 D. l.. cHAMPLlN ETAL3,113,709

GUIDE MECHANISM FoRA WEB 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 13, 1961 I5 A 10l5 David I. Cha lin Jolmcpo Ll'ylc IN VEN TORS www mRNBYS United StatesPatent 3,113,709 GUIDE MECHANHSM FR A WEB David L. Champlin and .lohn S.Pollock, Rochester, N.Y., assignors to Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester,N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Apr. 13, 1961, Ser. No. 102,848,16 Claims. (C1. 226-199) This invention relates generally to guidemechanisms, and more specically to an adjustable guide mechanism for aweb or the like.

The adjustable guide mechanism of this invention has been specificallydesigned for a printer for keeping the printing paper properly centeredwith the optical center line of the printing machine. Although thisguide mechanism is particularly adapted for use in a printer, itsadaptation to other uses is within the inventive concept.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide animproved adjustable guide mechanism engageable with one edge of a webfor guiding same.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedadjustable guide mechanism of simple design and construct-ion,thoroughly reliable and efficient in operation, and economical tomanufacture.

A more specic object of this invention is to provide an improved guidemechanism having laterally spacedapart axially adjustable side guidesbetween which the web is guided.

An additional object of this invention is to provide an adjustable guidemechanism for a roll of material in which the rotation of the roll aidsin maintaining the guide mechanism in its operative position.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide an improved guidemechanism having axially spaced side guides, each of which is axiallymovable to one of a plurality of positions and releasably held in theselected position for adjustably varying the distance between the sideguides for accommodating rolls of a web material of varying widths.

Objects and advantages other than those set forth above will be apparentfrom the following description when read in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view showing the upper end of a photographicprinter in which a preferred embodiment of this invention is embodied;

FlG. 2 is an enlarged side elevation View of one of the guide bracketsof FIG. 1 looking at it from line 2-2g FIG. 3 is an enlarged View insection of the guide mechanism taken substantially along line 3-3 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective View or" the guide mechanism with the coverplate removed therefrom; and

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of the cover plate of the guidemechanism.

As shown in the drawings, a preferred embodiment of this invention isembodied in a photographic printer 6, only a portion of which is shown,for keeping a web of photographic paper 7 centered with the opticalcenter line of printer 6. In printers of this type, the photographicpaper used may vary in width, say from 31/2 inches to 5 inches Since theoptical center line of printer 6 -is xed, it is readily apparent thatany guide mechanism for the paper in this specific application mustinclude axially spaced-apart guide members adapted to be axially movedtoward or away from one another into engagement with the edges of thepaper. Although the guide mechanism of this invention is particularlysuited for guiding a web of photographic paper 7 through a printer 6,its adaptation to other uses is within the inventive concept.

As seen in FIG. 1, the printer 6 is provided with sup- 'the take-up orsupply magazine.

3,113,709 Patented Dec. 10, 1963 ICC ply andtake-up magazines S, 9,respectively for rotatably supporting rolls, not shown, of photographicpaper 7. Each magazine 8, 9, comprises a base plate 12 secured to aframe 13 of printer 6 as seen best in FIG. 3. The

Vbase plate 12 has a cylindrical projection or spindle 14 for supportingone end of a core 5 upon which the paper 7 is wound or unwound,depending upon Whether it is A box-like housing 10 of magazine 9, and apair of diametrically opposed arcuate axially extending guide brackets15 are secured to base 12. Each bracket 15 has axially spaced steppedslots 16 in one end thereof as seen best in FIG. 2, and a groove 2? cuttherein intermediate its ends forming stepped slots 17 identical to thepreviously mentioned slots 16. An elongated side guide 18 is providedhaving an opening 19 through which the spindle 14 extends and a pair ofprojections 21 at each end receivable by a selected pair of slots 16,17. Each end of flange 118 further has a tab 22 to -whichone end of aspring 23 is secured, the opposite end of spring 23 being secured to atab 24 on guide bracket 15 for turning side guide 1S about spindle 14and urging projections 21 into selected slots 16, 17 for releasablyholding ange 13 in a selected axial position with respect to the axis ofspindle 14.

A cover plate 25for magazine 9, as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, isreleasably secured to housing 10 by spring clamps 26, seen in FIG. 4.The cover plate 25 further has a cylindrical spindle 27 secured theretocoaxial with spindle 14 and adapted to support the opposite end of core5. The cover plate 25 is further provided with a pair of guide brackets15 identical to guide brackets 15, and a side guide 18' identical toguide 18. All parts of brackets 15' and guide 18 that are identical tobrackets 15 and guide 18 are indicated by the same numerals primed.

Although each guide bracket 15, 15', of which bracket 15 as shown inFIG. 2 is representative, is shown with a pair of slots 16, 17 in eachaxial position, any number of slots can be used. By having the slots 16,17 arranged in a stepped fashion, substantially constant tension onspring 23 is assured, and the linger portions 28, 29 of bracket 15intermediate slots 16, 17 act as stop members to facilitate rapidadjustable movement of side guide 18 axially outwardly from a referencecenter line A-A as seen in FIG. 3 to the next position.

In operation, the operator moves side guide 1S in a clockwise directionas seen in FIG. 1, withdrawing projections 21 from slots 16, 17. As soonas projections 21 are moved clear of adjacent ngers, 28, 29, guide 1S isurged axially outwardly to the right in FIG. 2 until it engages the nextlingers 28, 29. The operator then merely releases side guide 18permitting spring 23 to urge projections 21 into the next succeedingslots 16, 17. In order to keep the paper properly centered with respectto the reference line A-A, the other side guide 18 must also be movedoutwardly in a similar manner to the next succeeding slots in bracket15.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference toa preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood thatvariations and modications can be elfected Within the spirit and scopeof the invention as described hereinabove and as dened in the appendedsaid spindle through a range of adjustment, said edge guide furtherhaving projections extending radially of said spindle and co-operatingwith said slots for positioning said edge guide in a selected positionof adjustment; and means for retaining said edge guide in said selectedposition.

2. A laterally adjustable edge guide arrangement for sheets, webs andthe like, comprising a spindle, a guide member mounted on said spindlefor lateral movement along said spindle through a range of adjustments,a iixed bracket member extending axially of said spindle and radiallyspaced therefrom, and further having a plurality of slots therein spacedapart in the direction of said adjustable movement, means on said guidemember engageable with selected ones of said slots to hold the guidemember at diferent positions in said range of adjustments, and means forretaining said means in such engagement.

3. The invention as deiined in claim 2 wherein said last named meanscomprises resilient means engaging said guide member, said slots beingso positioned and dimensioned as to maintain substantially constanttension on said resilient means regardless of the position of adjustmentof said guide member.

4. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said slots are defined bystepped walls to facilitate rapid movement of said slot engaging meansfrom one slot to the next.

5. In an adjustable guide mechanism for guiding the edges of a web orthe like transported therethrough, the combination comprising: a pair ofspaced apart, coaxial spindles; a pair of spaced apart fixed bracketsdisposed on opposite sides of each spindle and extending axially of saidspindle and radially spaced therefrom, each pair of brackets having aplurality of slots spaced axially of said spindle; an edge guide mountedon each spindle for movement angnlarly and axially of said spindle, eachguide having portions thereof extending radially of said spindle andselectively engageable with said slots in a re` spective one of saidpair of brackets for positioning said flange in a position to guide oneedge of said web; and means for releasably holding each flange in suchengagement.

6. The invention according to claim 5 wherein said means comprises aspring interposed between each bracket and one end of each guide.

7. The invention according to claim 5 wherein each of said brackets isarcuately shaped.

8. The invention according to claim 5 wherein said portions of eachguide comprise at least one projection on a peripheral edge thereof.

9. The invention according to claim S wherein said slots are provided inpairs in each bracket, the bottoms of the slots of each pair beingangularly spaced apart, and said portions of each guide comprise spacedapart projections formed on diametrically opposed edge portions thereofand co-operable with the pairs of slots in a respective one of saidbrackets.

l0. The invention according to claim 5 wherein each of said brackets isarcuately shaped; said portions of each guide comprises a pair ofdiametrically opposed lips formed thereon and said means comprises aspring interposed between each bracket and one side of each ange.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,127,772 Horn et al. Aug. 23, 1938 2,174,194 Nemnich Sept. 26, 19392,334,952 Perbal Nov. 23, 1943 2,905,408 Frate et al. Sept. 22, 1959

2. A LATERALLY ADJUSTABLE EDGE GUIDE ARRANGEMENT FOR SHEETS, WEBS AND THE LIKE, COMPRISING A SPINDLE, A GUIDE MEMBER MOUNTED ON SAID SPINDLE FOR LATERAL MOVEMENT ALONG SAID SPINDLE THROUGH A RANGE OF ADJUSTMENTS, A FIXED BRACKET MEMBER EXTENDING AXIALLY OF SAID SPINDLE AND RADIALLY SPACED THEREFROM, AND FURTHER HAVING A PLURALITY OF SLOTS THEREIN SPACED APART IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID ADJUSTABLE MOVEMENT, MEANS ON SAID GUIDE MEMBER ENGAGEABLE WITH SELECTED ONES OF SAID SLOTS TO HOLD THE GUIDE MEMBER AT DIFFERENT POSITIONS IN SAID RANGE OF ADJUSTMENTS, AND MEANS FOR RETAINING SAID MEANS IN SUCH ENGAGEMENT. 